Newbie looking at purchase and vehicles

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   With the new auto trannys with 6 to 10 speeds it really doesn’t matter so much what the final drive ratio is. The system will pick the right overall gear ratio. Back in the days of 3 and 4 speed transmissions it was a lot more important. 

I’m not actually considering buying a hybrid f150, I prefer SUVs anyway. Just seems like an interesting vehicle so when one shows up at the local Ford shop I might run over and check it out.  As for fuel economy, hybrids provide the most benefit in stop and go traffic. Highway driving is as we all know governed by air drag so the hybrid drive is not going to make a huge difference. 

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offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Topic: Newbie looking at purchase and vehicles Posted: 14 Mar 2021 at 3:57pm
	With the new auto trannys with 6 to 10 speeds it really doesn’t matter so much what the final drive ratio is. The system will pick the right overall gear ratio. Back in the days of 3 and 4 speed transmissions it was a lot more important. I’m not actually considering buying a hybrid f150, I prefer SUVs anyway. Just seems like an interesting vehicle so when one shows up at the local Ford shop I might run over and check it out. As for fuel economy, hybrids provide the most benefit in stop and go traffic. Highway driving is as we all know governed by air drag so the hybrid drive is not going to make a huge difference.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

neptune1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Mar 2021 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Posted: 14 Mar 2021 at 12:39pm
	A quick question.... When you are looking for a vehice to tow your Trailer, what gear ratio is adequate? Thanks in Advance.....

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595	Posted: 14 Mar 2021 at 12:31pm
	+1 to Glue Guy regarding a replacement in a few years.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2702	Posted: 14 Mar 2021 at 11:49am
	LA is right. That hybrid F150 is available now. The hybrid option is one thing that could move me to replace our 2015. It would be a tough act to follow, because the 2015 has been absolutely marvelous for us. My current thinking is to let the hybrid version mature for a year or two, and avoid early-adopter issues.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595	Posted: 14 Mar 2021 at 11:33am
	I could be mistaken, and usually am, but I think the F-150 hybrid is on sale now. I saw the EPA mileage number for it and I'm getting right almost the same mileage with my current truck. The generator would be nice, though. Sure beats lugging one around in the back of the truck. I don't want to think about the price tag.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 14 Mar 2021 at 10:40am
	Tks LA. Might take a look at it when the hybrid f150’s come out. That’s an interesting vehicle with the built in inverter/generator system to run the trailer electrical.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595	Posted: 14 Mar 2021 at 9:14am
	OG, the back up system can be programed for several trailers of varying lengths. You just go through the programming steps for each and each gets its own sticker on the tongue. I never paid attention to the back up system when we made the decision to buy the truck. I just asked for the towing package option thinking about the receiver, brake controller, heavy duty transmission cooler [it has a temp gauge for the tranny], and the bargeman plug. The rest of the purchase was a matter of negotiating the price for a truck that fit our towing needs. It works pretty well on flat ground, even at relatively sharp turns, but it's that rolled curb with an uneven surface the rest of the way to the gate that causes me problems. In a parking lot, you could drive around backwards all day if you liked and would have no problem with moderately sharp turns. Using it is also a function of getting used to steering with that little knob. Like I say, I'm a Luddite and learning new technology tricks for this old dawg is always challenging. If the back up system was sold as a costly separate option on its own, for my purposes I wouldn't bother with it.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6417	Posted: 14 Mar 2021 at 8:37am
	The Ford backup assist looks interesting, but I think the Hensley Cub hitch I have would likely confuse it because of the way the hitch articulates.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 14 Mar 2021 at 8:30am
	Thanks LA. So the takeaway is the Ford backup feature might help new owners get started on more or less straight backing maneuvers but won’t be of much help backing around sharper turns. For me the latter would be the main benefit, backing with small directional changes doesn’t pose a problem. I tend to misjudge when to start and end a sharper 90 deg or so turn turn, maybe because I have a couple trailers with pretty different lengths. Guess I’m not buying a new tow vehicle with a fancy backup feature that I can’t afford anyway.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Dirt Sifter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2018 Location: Right side OR Online Status: Offline Posts: 170	Posted: 13 Mar 2021 at 11:38pm
	Our Tacoma with tow package did just fine with our 179 and does acceptably well with the 195 except in a strong head wind. You might experience the same thing in the Colorado, but you'll probably be more comfortable maxed out at 50 - 55 mph on an 80 mph freeway. Those GM seats are nice and probably don't suck up as far as the Toyota seats with trucks blowing by. Keep an eye on the weather and be ready to pull off the road for a day or so if need be. In the years we've been RVing across the west it only happened once but that was an unforgettable experience. IMHO your choice of tow vehicles is a good one as long as you get the factory tow package feature. Welcome to the party!
	Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE '07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages 1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff